Car sparks brush fire that scorches more than 20 acres

Updated 6:55 am, Monday, February 17, 2014

Photo: Mark Wilson

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Harmony Volunteer Fire Department firefighter Preston Welch inspects the shell of a car at the scene of a brush fire on Saturday afternoon. Crews from four area fire departments battled the brush fire on the far Southeast Side after the wrecked car burst into flames. It was unclear what happened to the driver or how many passengers were involved, if any. At least one woman suffered from smoke inhalation, but no other injuries were reported. less

Harmony Volunteer Fire Department firefighter Preston Welch inspects the shell of a car at the scene of a brush fire on Saturday afternoon. Crews from four area fire departments battled the brush fire on the ... more

Photo: Mark Wilson

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Crews from four area fire departments battled a brush fire Saturday afternoon on the far Southeast Side after a wrecked car burst into flames.

Crews from four area fire departments battled a brush fire Saturday afternoon on the far Southeast Side after a wrecked car burst into flames.

Photo: Mark D. Wilson/Express-News

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Crews from four area fire departments battled a brush fire Saturday afternoon on the far Southeast Side after a wrecked car burst into flames.

Crews from four area fire departments battled a brush fire Saturday afternoon on the far Southeast Side after a wrecked car burst into flames.

Photo: Mark D. Wilson/Express-News

Image 4 of 8

Crews from four area fire departments battled a brush fire Saturday afternoon on the far Southeast Side after a wrecked car burst into flames.

Crews from four area fire departments battled a brush fire Saturday afternoon on the far Southeast Side after a wrecked car burst into flames.

Photo: Mark D. Wilson/Express-News

Image 5 of 8

Crews from four area fire departments battled a brush fire Saturday afternoon on the far Southeast Side after a wrecked car burst into flames.

Crews from four area fire departments battled a brush fire Saturday afternoon on the far Southeast Side after a wrecked car burst into flames.

Photo: Mark D. Wilson/Express-News

Image 6 of 8

Crews from four area fire departments battled a brush fire Saturday afternoon on the far Southeast Side after a wrecked car burst into flames.

Crews from four area fire departments battled a brush fire Saturday afternoon on the far Southeast Side after a wrecked car burst into flames.

Photo: Mark D. Wilson/Express-News

Image 7 of 8

Crews from four area fire departments battled a brush fire Saturday afternoon on the far Southeast Side after a wrecked car burst into flames.

Crews from four area fire departments battled a brush fire Saturday afternoon on the far Southeast Side after a wrecked car burst into flames.

Photo: Mark D. Wilson/Express-News

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Car sparks brush fire that scorches more than 20 acres

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SAN ANTONIO — Crews from four area fire departments battled a brush fire Saturday afternoon on the far Southeast Side after a wrecked car burst into flames.

Bexar County Emergency Management Coordinator Kyle Coleman said a car careened off the southbound lanes of Interstate 37 near Mathis Drive around 4 p.m.

After the vehicle came to a stop in a dry, brushy area just to the right of the highway, it caught fire. Flames from the car spread through brush in the area, burning between 20 and 25 acres, Coleman said.

Firefighters contained the blaze to an area that stretched roughly a quarter of a mile down the highway, protecting homes from flames that were being pushed nearby by the wind.

Traffic on southbound Interstate 37 was completely shut down as crews worked to keep the fire under control.

It was unclear what happened to the driver or how many passengers were involved, if any. At least one woman suffered from smoke inhalation, but no other injuries were reported.

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The fire did not spread to any structures.

Fire crews from Gardendale, Harmony, China Grove and Bexar County's Emergency Service District 2 worked together to extinguish the blaze.